Relating to or resembling a cataract, especially referring to the turbulent, rushing quality of water or the eye condition.
Formed from 'cataract' (from Greek 'katarrhaktes,' waterfall) with the suffix '-al,' meaning 'of or relating to.' The adjective bridges the two meanings of cataract—waterfalls and eye disease.
The word 'cataract' has two completely different meanings that share the same etymology because ancient doctors thought clouded eyes looked like rushing water obscuring vision—a poetic observation that stuck in medical terminology.
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